Stories of Self Defense

Colorado City Pays $25,000 to Open Carrier After Wrongful Arrest

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Jim Mapes is $25,000 richer today (well, his attorneys are most likely richer anyway) following a 2012 incident in which Mapes was arrested for openly carrying a handgun into a Thornton, CO movie theater a week after the Aurora theater shooting.

The incident occurred on July 29, 2012 at the Cinnebare Theater in Thornton. Someone called police and told them someone had carried a firearm into a movie.

Mapes told 7NEWS at the time that he’d worn his sidearm into the same theater several times and never had a problem.

“The movie stopped and the lights came on,” he said. “Someone said, ‘I just got a call from my friend who said there’s someone in the theater with a gun.’”

Mapes said he stood up and told fellow patrons that he had a concealed carry permit.

Mapes was arrested for carrying a firearm into a liquor or beer establishment. Then the summons received by Mapes said he was brandishing his firearm. However, the sidearm never left Mapes’ belt holster.

The charges were eventually dropped, but Mapes filed a lawsuit for wrongful arrest. Now, nearly 2 years later, the city has agreed to pay a settlement of $25,000, but has admitted no wrongdoing.